A Level English Literature

English Literature is a diverse, thought-provoking and intriguing subject which gives students the opportunity to engage with a range of texts from across the ages.

Focussing on the main themes of ‘Love Through the Ages’ and ‘The Struggle for Modern Identity’, the course gives students opportunities to develop their research skills and explore the social and cultural differences between 14th century Venice and 1920s New York, Victorian England and1980s coal mining towns.

The course also provides students with a range of texts including poetry, prose, unseen materials and plays in order to broaden their understanding of the many forms Literature can take. The course will also encourage students to become independent and critical readers by teaching them how to evaluate language, structure and form, discuss different representations of characters and interrogate the writer’s purpose.

In giving students their own chance to develop their own critical voice, English Literature celebrates the fact there can never be one correct answer.

Paper 1 = 40% of A-Level

Section A – William Shakespeare, Othello (25 Marks)

Section B – Unseen Poetry (25 Marks)

Section c – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby and Pre 1900 Poetry (25 marks)

Paper 2 = 40% of A-Level

Section A – Carol Ann Duffy, Feminine Gospels (25 marks)

Section B – Unseen Prose (25 marks) & Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit & Arthur Miller, All My Sons (25 marks)

NEA = 20% of A-Level

Comparative study of two texts (50 marks)

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Literature at 5

An A Level in English Literature could lead to a career in:

• Writing
• Teaching
• Literary Criticism
• Publishing
• Performing Arts
• Journalism
• Politics